UIS split its Saturday doubleheader at Maryville, falling 3-0 in the opener before bouncing back with a 4-1 win in game two.
In the first game, the Prairie Stars (27-14, 11-8 GLVC) were limited to just two hits in a seven-inning shutout. Maryville struck early, scoring in the first inning on an RBI single, then added another run in the second on a double. The Saints extended the lead to 3-0 in the fourth, and UIS was unable to respond offensively.
Chloe Scroggins and Hailey Niebrugge each recorded a hit for UIS, while Olivia DeLuca drew a walk and stole a base. Calista Stahlhut went the distance in the circle, allowing three earned runs on seven hits over six innings with five strikeouts.
“Calista did a great job in the circle keeping us in the ball game as we tried to get the offense going,” said head coach Shannon Guthrie. “Chloe and Hailey tried to get the offense going with a couple hits, but we didn’t generate the key hits.”
UIS responded in game two with a strong all-around performance to earn the split. The Prairie Stars broke through in the fourth inning when Scroggins scored on a wild pitch to give UIS a 1-0 lead. Maryville evened the game in the sixth with a solo home run, but UIS answered in the seventh with three runs to take control.
Olivia DeLuca reached to start the inning and later scored, and Bailey Masching delivered the key hit with a two-RBI single to bring home DeLuca and Rosie Bartletti. Rebecca Neupauer also scored in the inning on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 4-1.
Bartletti was dominant in the circle, tossing a complete game while allowing just one run on three hits with nine strikeouts. Scroggins reached base three times with a hit and two walks, while Masching drove in two runs to lead the offense as UIS secured the 4-1 victory.
On the bounce-back win in game two, Guthrie highlighted a complete team effort:
“Rosie came out and gave us a huge start in the circle. She really dominated and commanded the defense. Chloe kept finding ways to get on base, Calista and Liv both had productive at-bats all day, and Liv had a huge at-bat leading off the seventh with a hit to get a big three-run inning going. Bailey had a great double to drive in two big RBIs. The defense played a solid game, and Rachel had a great throw to shut down their running game.”
UIS will meet No. 19 McKendree in Lebanon, Ill., on Sunday.
